SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Satellites communications are facing increasingly more diverse physical and electromagnetic interferences (EMI) making RF emitter detection and localization is a key enabler for reliable space control, space situational awareness, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as satellite communications together with positioning, navigation and timing. As the focus of developing an effective proof-of-concept for 3-dimensional (3-D) positioning of EMI sources from a satellite, Nokomis proposes to develop methods and system concepts that detect and locate in real time potential EMI sources at Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and/or Geostationary Orbit (GEO) distances through the use of signal analysis of weak emissions to identify specific emissions from targets and phase difference of arrival algorithms which locate the source of the emissions as well as provide positioning information for assets of interest. Nokomis will analyze the concept of operations (CONOPS) and requirements to prove feasibility through use of simulation and laboratory prototype. These objectives will be supported by feasibility study of approach through development of algorithm design, software design for optimizing signal strength for high precision geo-location, and optimization of hardware design for integration onto satellite through design of a prototype utilizing existing hardware elements.
